Tube connector

Abstract

A tube connector for attachment to an end of a tube of a pressurized fluid system has a housing, a main sealing element, a gripping element and a cone element. The main sealing element is arranged for sealing an inner surface of the housing to an outer surface of a tube. The gripping element comprises a gripping edge for engaging with an outer surface of a tube. The cone element limits a movement of the grip-ping element. The tube connector further has an integrated release element. The release element has a tubular part, a top part and an environmental sealing. A release edge of the tubular part engages with the gripping element and the environmental sealing is adapted for sealing a receptacle formed in the housing of the environment.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A tube connector ( 1 ) for attachment to a tube ( 7 ) of a pressurized fluid system, wherein the tube connector ( 1 ) comprises:
 a housing ( 3 ), a main sealing element ( 9 ), a gripping element ( 11 ) and a cone element ( 13 ), 
 the housing ( 3 ) comprising a receptacle ( 5 ) for receiving the tube ( 7 ), the receptacle ( 5 ) being delimited by an insertion end ( 21 ) for which the tube ( 7 ) can be inserted into the receptacle ( 5 ), and an abutment end ( 23 ) for delimiting a maximum insertion of the tube ( 7 ) into the housing ( 3 ), 
 the main sealing element ( 9 ) being provided for preventing a fluid from flowing out of a pressurized fluid system at a connection of the tube ( 7 ) and the tube connector ( 1 ), 
 the gripping element ( 11 ) comprising a passage ( 12 ) for receiving the tube ( 7 ), the gripping element ( 11 ) being arranged in the receptacle ( 5 ) and comprising a gripping edge ( 25 ) for engaging with an outer surface ( 24 ) of the tube ( 7 ) received in the passage ( 12 ) of the gripping element ( 11 ), wherein the gripping element contacts the main sealing element, 
 the cone element ( 13 ) being arranged in the receptacle ( 5 ) for delimiting a movement of the gripping element ( 11 ) towards the insertion end ( 21 ), 
 the tube connector ( 1 ) further comprising an integrated release element ( 15 ) arranged at least partially in the receptacle ( 5 ) and movable along a direction pointing from the insertion end ( 21 ) to the abutment end ( 23 ), the release element ( 15 ) comprising a passage ( 36 ) for the tube ( 7 ), a tubular part ( 31 ) and an environmental sealing element ( 35 ), 
 a release edge ( 37 ) of the tubular part ( 31 ) being adapted for engaging with the gripping element ( 11 ) and moving the gripping element ( 11 ), such that the gripping element ( 11 ) releases the tube ( 7 ) inserted into the passage ( 12 ) of the gripping element ( 11 ), 
 the environmental sealing element ( 35 ) providing a sealing of the receptacle ( 5 ) from an environment, and 
 the environmental sealing element ( 35 ) being adapted for sealing the release element ( 15 ) towards an inner surface ( 19 ) of the housing ( 3 ) and towards the outer surface ( 24 ) of the tube ( 7 ) inserted into the passage ( 36 ) of the release element ( 15 ), wherein: 
 the integrated release element ( 15 ) comprises a top part ( 33 ) providing an actuation surface for pushing the release element ( 15 ) towards the abutment end ( 23 ), 
 the top part ( 33 ) of the release element ( 15 ) forms a collar ( 39 ) extending at least partly between the cone element ( 13 ) and the inner surface ( 19 ) of the housing ( 3 ), a first protrusion ( 41 ) is formed at the top part ( 33 ) and a second protrusion ( 43 ) is formed at the cone element ( 13 ), and 
 the first protrusion ( 41 ) and the second protrusion ( 43 ) are adapted to engage for delimiting a maximum movement of the release edge ( 37 ) in a direction away from the abutment end ( 23 ) to a first predefined distance. 
 
     
     
       2. A tube connector ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the environmental sealing element ( 35 ) is formed in one piece and from a first plastic material. 
     
     
       3. A tube connector ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the tubular part ( 31 ) and the top part ( 33 ) are connected by at least four evenly distributed bridge parts ( 46 ), the bridge parts ( 46 ) being formed from the second plastic material and gaps ( 44 ) between the bridge elements ( 46 ) being filled with the first plastic material. 
     
     
       4. A tube connector ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the top part ( 33 ) and the tubular part ( 31 ) are formed in one piece and from a second plastic material, the first plastic material differing from the second plastic material. 
     
     
       5. A tube connector ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the top part ( 33 ) of the release element ( 15 ) forms a collar ( 39 ) extending at least partly between the cone element ( 13 ) and the inner surface ( 19 ) of the housing ( 3 ), a first protrusion ( 41 ) is formed at the top part ( 33 ) and a second protrusion ( 43 ) is formed at the cone element ( 13 ), wherein the first protrusion ( 41 ) and the second protrusion ( 43 ) are adapted to engage for delimiting a maximum movement of the release edge ( 37 ) in a direction away from the abutment end ( 23 ) to a first predefined distance. 
     
     
       6. A tube connector ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the top part ( 33 ) and the tubular part ( 31 ) are formed in one piece and from a second plastic material, the first plastic material differing from the second plastic material. 
     
     
       7. A tube connector ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the tubular part ( 31 ) and the top part ( 33 ) are connected by at least four evenly distributed bridge parts ( 46 ), the bridge parts ( 46 ) being formed from the second plastic material and gaps ( 44 ) between the bridge elements ( 46 ) being filled with the first plastic material. 
     
     
       8. A tube connector ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the cone element ( 13 ) comprises a third protrusion ( 45 ), wherein the first protrusion ( 41 ) and the third protrusion ( 45 ) are adapted to engage for delimiting a maximum movement of the release edge ( 37 ) in a direction away from the abutment end ( 23 ) to a second predefined distance, wherein the second predefined distance is less than the first distance. 
     
     
       9. A tube connector ( 1 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein the first protrusion ( 41 ), the second protrusion ( 43 ) and/or the third protrusion ( 45 ) are adapted to provide a direct load path from the cone element ( 13 ) via the environmental sealing element ( 35 ) to the inner surface ( 19 ) of the housing ( 3 ). 
     
     
       10. A tube connector ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the first protrusion ( 41 ), the second protrusion ( 43 ) and/or a third protrusion ( 45 ) are adapted to provide a direct load path from the cone element ( 13 ) via the environmental sealing element ( 35 ) to the inner surface ( 19 ) of the housing ( 3 ). 
     
     
       11. A tube connector ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the cone element ( 13 ) and the release element ( 15 ) are formed such that a load due to a radial extension of the tube ( 7 ) inserted into the passage ( 36 ) of the release element ( 15 ) is transferred via the cone element ( 13 ) and the environmental sealing element ( 35 ) to the inner surface ( 19 ) of the housing ( 3 ). 
     
     
       12. A tube connector ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the release edge ( 37 ) of the tubular part ( 31 ) is adapted for engaging with the gripping element ( 11 ) and moving the gripping element ( 11 ) towards the abutment end ( 23 ) and/or away from the tube ( 7 ) inserted into the passage ( 12 ) of the gripping element ( 11 ),
 and the gripping element ( 11 ) comprises an inclined surface ( 27 ) such that a width of the passage ( 12 ) for the tube ( 7 ) formed by the gripping element ( 11 ) increases in a direction pointing from the abutment end ( 23 ) to the insertion end ( 21 ). 
 
     
     
       13. A tube connector ( 1 ) according  claim 1 , wherein the tube connector ( 1 ) further comprises a support sleeve ( 17 ) for receiving an end of the tube ( 7 ) inserted into the receptacle ( 5 ). 
     
     
       14. A tube connector ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing means ( 55 ) for biasing the release element ( 15 ) in a direction pointing away from the abutment end ( 23 ). 
     
     
       15. A tube connector ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the environmental sealing element ( 35 ) is adapted for engaging with the tube ( 7 ) that is inserted into the passage ( 36 ) of the release element ( 15 ) such that the release element ( 15 ) moves in the same direction as the tube ( 7 ) inserted into the receptacle ( 5 ). 
     
     
       16. A tube connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the main sealing element ( 9 ) comprises a passage ( 10 ) for receiving the tube ( 7 ) and wherein the main sealing element ( 9 ) is arranged in the receptacle ( 5 ) for providing a sealing between an inner surface ( 19 ) of the housing ( 3 ) and an outer surface ( 24 ) of the tube ( 7 ) received in the passage ( 10 ) of the main sealing element ( 9 ).